A Glenrothes man researching his family tree has produced a new radio documentary after discovering one of relatives was a cold-blooded killer.
Stuart Russell, 27, details the gruesome murder committed by his great-grandfather’s cousin and its aftermath in ‘The Egg Dealer”.
Stuart uncovered a news article about John Welsh, who was an egg dealer in the 1930s.
He discovered Welsh committed a murder at The Croft in Leslie’s Mid Row in 1938 and found hundreds of news articles about not only the murder but how Welsh managed to evade capture for several weeks.
“It was a shock to find out that my ancestor was a murderer but through detailed historic research I was able to piece together this bizarre story that was kept secret for over half a century,” he explained.
“It details John’s struggle with severe mental ill health issues and his dramatic run from the law.
“I think it will prove interesting, especially to people in Leslie, some of whom may have been around at the time.”
Welsh, who was 33 when he committed his heinous crime, battering his uncle William Forrester to death and leaving his lifeless body in a coal cellar.
Stuart followed the story of how Welsh fled around Scotland and down to Liverpool before the chase finally ended in Southampton with his arrest.
Welsh had been lodging at a Salvation Army hostel when he was detained and he was brought back to face justice in Fife, although the chase made national headlines.
A producer at BBC Radio Wales, Stuart started his broadcasting career at Fife College and went on to take a first class honours and then a master’s degree at the University of Sunderland.
He has also won multiple awards at the prestigious New York Festival.
“It’s an incredible story and I’m hoping people in Fife tune in to hear it on Sunday,” he said.
The Egg Dealer will be broadcast of BBC Radio 3 at 6.45pm on Sunday, September 22.
